MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal no participará en los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres al no encontrarse físicamente en condiciones de competir, según informó el jueves el tenista español en un comunicado al que tuvo acceso The Associated Press.

Nadal dijo que la decisión era una de las "más tristes de su carrera". No detalló sus problemas físicos. Recientemente, Nadal canceló un partido de exhibición contra Novak Djokovic por una tendinitis en el tendón rotuliano de la rodilla izquierda.

"No me encuentro en condiciones de competir en las Olimpiadas de Londres y por tanto no viajaré como tenía previsto con la delegación española para competir en las mismas", dijo Nadal en el comunicado.

"Tengo que pensar en mis compañeros, no puedo ser egoísta y tengo que pensar en el bien del deporte español", agregó.

Nadal, número tres del mundo y campeón olímpico en Beijing 2008, iba a ser además el abanderado de España en la ceremonia inaugural de los Juegos el próximo 27 de julio.

"Hoy es uno de los días más tristes de mi carrera ya que una de las mayores ilusiones y el momento quizás más especial era ser el abanderado de España en la ceremonia de inauguración", comentó.

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  • Rafael Nadal

  • Rafael Nadal

    FILE - In this March 20, 2010 file photo, Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the London Olympics, saying he is 'not in condition' to compete. Nadal said in a statement Thursday July 19, 2012 it is one of the saddest moments of his career and that he will not travel with the Spanish delegation to London. He was set to be the flag bearer for Spain during the opening ceremony. Nadal won gold in Beijing in 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain dries himself off after he lost the third set to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Lukas Rosol, right, of the Czech Republic is congratulated by Rafael Nadal of Spain after Rosol defeated Nadal in a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain lies on the court after failing to return a shot to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain lies on the court after failing to return a shot to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain Lukas reacts after losing a point to Rosol of the Czech Republic during a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a return to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during a second round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

  • Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during a second round men's singles match against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)